Carpet disposal can be a tricky issue. You may have a lot of old carpets, or you may be looking to get rid of a carpet that’s only been in your home for a few months. No matter the situation, we’ve got you covered with some of the best options for getting rid of old carpets.
You have three options for disposing of your old carpet: donate it, recycle it, or throw it away. Donating or recycling is the best option if you want to save money and do your part for the environment.
But if you’re trying to get rid of something that takes up space in your home and will not be missed (and you don’t want to pay for disposal), throwing it out is an option, too.
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8 Eco-Friendly Ways to Dispose of Old Carpet
1. Ask Your Carpet Installer to take Care of It
The easiest way is to have your installer take care of everything. They can recycle the carpet and ensure it goes to a facility where it won’t be dumped into the environment. Some offices will even pick up the old carpet for free.
2. Call a Professional Carpet Disposal Service
Check the Yellow Pages or search online for companies that handle carpet disposal in your area. Most charge by weight. Some will also come directly to your home and haul away large amounts of old carpeting on their trucks; others come in vans or pickup trucks and pick up small amounts at a time from individual residences or businesses.
3. Donate Your Carpet to a Charity
If you have a small amount of carpet that needs to be disposed of, you can donate it to a charity organization in your area. Your local Salvation Army or Habitat for Humanity are good places to look.
You should ensure that they accept your type of carpet and can use it in their current projects. You may also want to contact them ahead of time to schedule a pickup date when you are ready to donate your carpets.
4. Sell your carpet on Craigslist
If you have more than one roll of carpet that needs disposal, Craigslist is a great place to sell them! You can use Craigslist’s “free” option if selling all the rolls at once is not possible, or go with its “for sale” option if you only have one roll available for sale at this time (but plan on selling more later).
Make sure that any ads include photos of each roll so potential buyers can see what they are getting before committing money or time to make an offer.
5. Recycle It
Most carpet is made from synthetic material, which can be recycled if the fibers aren’t too worn out. If you want to recycle your old carpet, check with local recycling centers to see if they accept it.
6. Haul It to the Dump
If your carpet is beyond repair or unusable because of its age or condition, consider taking it to a landfill instead of throwing it in the trash. This way, it doesn’t end up being put through an incinerator (which isn’t environmentally friendly).
You’ll pay for your vehicle’s total weight going in (typically, by the pound or so per ton).
7. Call a Junk Removal Service
Junk removal companies will come to your home and remove unwanted items for a fee. However, this method can be relatively expensive and time-consuming if you have many items to eliminate. Also, some junk removal companies may not accept old carpets.
8. Find Another Use for It
If you can’t sell, recycle, or donate, and hauling it to the dump is impossible, another option is to find another use.
Is there something you can use carpeting scraps for? If so, you can cut it into squares or strips to decorate a child’s playhouse or make protective runners or doormats for people to wipe their feet on. Get creative if that is all you got.
FAQs About Carpet Disposal:
How much does it cost to remove carpeting?
When you need to remove old carpeting from your home, the first thing to do is determine if you can do it yourself or if you need to hire a professional service.
If you have a contractor or handyman in mind, they should be able to quote you on the cost of properly removing and disposing of the carpeting.
A general estimate is probably between $100 and $300.
Can I put old carpeting in the trash?
It depends on where you live and your state’s waste disposal laws. Contact your city’s waste management department to find out whether they’ll accept carpeting placed outside for pickup on garbage day.
If they say yes (and remember to ask what types of carpet they accept), you can dispose of your carpets with your regular garbage every week without fear of being fined by local authorities!
Is it hard to remove old carpets?
The answer depends on the type of carpet you have. Carpeting is made from various materials, including nylon, wool, and blends. Some carpets are glued down, while others can be removed by pulling them up.
The most accessible types of carpet to remove are woven with synthetic fibers such as nylon or polyester (also called Dacron). These carpets usually have a jute backing and can be easily pulled up.
If they’re glued down, you’ll need a strong adhesive remover to loosen the glue before tugging on the carpet.
What tools do I need to remove an old carpet?
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Hammer
- Utility knife
- Staple remover
- Scissors
- Handheld vacuum
- A large trash bag
Steps to remove an old carpet:
- Clear the room. Remove all furniture and other items from the room. If your carpet is in a hallway, you can leave it on the floor but pull it back to expose the walls.
- Vacuum the area with a vacuum cleaner fitted with a brush attachment.
- Use a utility knife or sharp scissors to remove any carpet stuck in the tack strips. Use pliers, a hammer, and a flat-edged chisel to remove any nails or staples.
- Pry up any remaining tack strips with a pry bar and hammer, then pull them out of the floorboard underneath using pliers or needle-nose pliers.
Is it better to hire someone or remove the carpet yourself?
Anyone can remove old carpeting. The process can be messy and time-consuming.
Hiring a professional is probably best if you want to save time or don’t want to attempt it yourself. If you’ve got a lot of old carpeting to get rid of, it’s worth paying someone else to do it.
Final Thoughts on How to Dispose of Old Carpet
Whether you choose to use a custom carpet removal service or do-it-yourself methods, you’ll be glad to know that you have options for disposing of old carpet.
So next time you have some old carpet to dispose of, don’t think twice about what to do. Start looking for the most suitable disposal method and begin the process. You’ll be glad you did.
Check out our other article post on how to recycle various items.
